The Delta Summer Keepers
A lyrical journey through the heart of the Mississippi Delta and the bonds of a final summer
- Literary Fiction
- Adventure
- Young Adult
Greenwood, Mississippi, 1937. Under the sweltering heat of the Delta sun, twenty children from the wrong side of the tracks find more than just an escape from the Great Depression; they find a family. For five years, Darlene and Jasper Cooper have been the unofficial keepers of the neighborhood kids, providing a sanctuary of mud fights, talent shows, and shared adventures. But this summer is different. It is the last. With the Coopers preparing to move across the country, they’ve planned one final, magnificent surprise: a six-day excursion aboard a river ferry that represents a world far beyond the dusty roads of Leflore County. As nicknames like 'Compass' and 'Whittler' become badges of courage, the group must navigate the transition from childhood innocence to the harsh realities of a prejudiced world. From the bumpy ride of an open-air bus to the shimmering waters of the Yazoo River, these children will discover that while the summer must end, the fortitude of their bond is unbreakable. The Delta Summer Keepers is a poignant, atmospheric tale of found family, coming-of-age, and the magical, fleeting moments that define a lifetime. Join the keepers on one last journey through a landscape of memory and hope.